Steering handle means



Nov. 15, 1949 JORDAN 2,488,199

STEERING HANDLE MEANS Filed Oct. 18, 1946 i F3 Jnven%0r gg id gar'Joraan. K 1 W W%YM,

Patented Nov. 15, 1949 STEERING HANDLE MEANS Edgar Jordan, Eau Claire, Wis., assignor to Llational Pressure Cooker Company, Eau Claire, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,041

9 Claims.

This invention relates to outboard motor units, and has to do with the steering handle of such a unit and the mounting means therefore.

Outboard motor units commonly comprise a motor support tube which carries the power head and the propeller and associated parts, this tube being mounted for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, for raising the unit to clear obstructions, or for other purposes, and for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis, in a bearing sleeve or like member, for steering purposes; as is well known. In the operation of the unit considerable vibration, particularly motor torque vibration, is produced. If the steering handle is directly secured to the power head, the vibration incident to operation of the unit is transmitted to the handle. That is objectionable as'being both annoying and tiring to the operator, who must hold the handle firmly and continuously while steering. The handle is also used for tilting the unit so as to raise it to clear obstructions, or for other purposes, and should, therefore, be secured to the unit in such manner as not to yield vertically to any apprecie able extent, if at all, when downward pressure is applied to the handle.

It has been proposed, in order to avoid objectional transmission of vibration to the handle, to mount the latter by resilient means. In all of such proposed resilient mountings with which I am familiar, the handle mounting means is rather complicated and expensive and is incorporated in the bearing sleeve or like member in which the support tube is rotatably mounted, often necessitating disassembly, to a substantial extent at least, of the support tube and the mounting means therefor, when it is necessary to inspect, repair or replace the steering handle mounting means.

My invention is directed to an outboard motor unit having a steering handle associated therewith in such manner as to be highly efficient with respect to both tilting of the unit and prevention of transmission of vibration to the handle, the handle mounting means being of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction, readily accessible at all times and of such character that the handle structure may readily be removed and replaced as a unit without disturbing any other portion of the outboard motor unit. To that end, the steering handle is mounted on the unit by means providing substantially unyielding connection therebetween for tilting the unit that substantially all vibration incident to operation of the unit is efiectively damped out so as not to be transmitted to the handle. More specifically, the handle is attached to the power head mounting member or flange fixed to the motor support tube, by means accommodating limited turning movement of the handle relative to the mounting member, there being elastic vibration damping means between the mounting member and the handle structure, and the latter and the mounting member having cooperating elements restraining them against relative vertical movement. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description. I

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of an outboard motor unit having applied thereto steering handle means embodying my invention, the mounting sleeve for the support tube being partly broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 3, certain parts being shown in elevation; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view, on an enlarged scale, of the upper end portion of the motor support tube and the motor mounting member secured thereon, with the handle bracket and associated parts carried by the motor mounting member, the handle bracket being broken away.

I have shown my invention, by way of example, as applied to an outboard motor unit 5 comprising a motor support tube 6 to the lower end of which is secured a fitting 1 having bolted thereto an intermediate section 8 and a lower section 9 having the usual skeg Ill. The lower section 9 houses the usual gearing for driving a propeller II disposed below and adjacent anticavitation plates [2 at the lower end section 8. The motor support tube 6 is mounted for turning movement in a bearing sleeve I 3, conveniently formed in two sections bolted together, this sleeve l3 serving to support the tube 6 and the parts carried thereby for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis. The sleeve [3 is provided, at its upper end, with an arm l4 pivoted at I5 to a clamp bracket [6, for turning movement about a horizontal axis. The bracket [6 is provided with clamp screws 18 and associated parts, whereby the unit is secured to the sill or transom of a boat, as is well known. 7

A downwardly cupped mounting member 20,

about its horizontal pivot axis, while assuring 5 which may be of substantially elliptical shape in plan and is provided at its top with an outwardly extending peripheral flange 2|, is fixed on the upper end of the motor support tube 6, conveniently by means of a tubular neck 22 extending downward from member 23 and fitting about and secured on the upper end portion of tube 6. The power head 23, which includes the motor and its various appurtenances, is suitably secured, conveniently by bolting, on the mounting member 20, this power head including a housing or shroud enclosing the motor and its appurtenances, as is known.

The end portion 25 of mounting 2| which is directed forwardly in the forward travel of a boat to which the unit is attached, and may therefore be referred to as the forward end portion, is of rounded or arcuate contour in plan. The member is provided with straight side wall elements 26 extending from the ends of the curved wall of end portion 25. The member 26 is further provided with outwardly extending flanges 2'! contiguous to the side wall elements 26 and, at the mid-portion of forward end thereof, with a flange 28 extending outward or forward therefrom and of substantially greater length than either of the flanges 21. The flanges 21 and 28 are disposed below fiange 2 in underlying relation thereto, and member 20 is provided with outwardly d'irected vertical shoulders 29, extending from the rearward ends of elements 25, and defining therewith and with flange 21 and the overlying portion of flange 2|, a recess 30.

The forward end portion 25 of member 25 receives head element 3| of a handle bracket 32 comprising part of a handle structure, including a handle member 33 pivoted at its rearward end, at 34, to the forward end of bracket 32. Handle 33 is provided at its forward end with a suitable grip35, and the handle 33 and bracket 32 are provided with cooperating elements positively limiting relative downward movement of handle 33 beyond its horizontal position shown in Figure 1, while permitting this handle 33 to be turned in to substantially vertical position, as, is known.

Head 3| of handle bracket 32 is of rounded or J arcuate contour in plan and fits about end portion 25 of member 20, between the upper flange 2| and the lower flanges 21 and 28 thereof. The fit of the head 3| of handle bracket 32 between the flanges of member 20 is a running fit to accommodate turning movement of head element 3|, to a limited extent, relative to end portion 25 of member 29, as will appear presently, but there is no appreciable looseness or play between head element 3| and flanges 2| and 21 and 28. Accordingly, with the handle member 33 in its normal horizontal position, by exerting downward pressure thereon, the member 20, and with it the tube 6, may be tilted about axis |5 for raising the unit to clear obstructions and for other purposes.

The head element 3| of handle bracket 32 is provided, at each end thereof, with an inwardly opening notch 31 providing a shoulder 38 opposed to shoulder 29 of member 20. When the handle bracket is mounted on member 20, the notches 31 define with recesses 3|] pockets which receive blocks 4|] of a suitable resilient material, such as the synthetic rubber known commercially as Neoprene which is a polymer of 2-chloro-1,3- butadiene, possessing considerable elasticity and resistant to heat and oil. Any suitable elastic or resilient material may be used, though I preferably use a synthetic rubber such as Neoprene. Head element 3| of handle bracket 32 is provided at approximately its midlength with a recess 4| opposed to a recess 42 in end portion 25 of member 20, provided at its end portion with a thickened element 43. A stud 44 is secured in a boss 45 extending inwardly of member 20 from element 43 thereof. This stud 44 extends forwardly or outwardly through a slot 46 in head element 3|, of substantially greater length than the diameter of stud 44, providing clearance thereabout permitting movement of head element 3| about end portion 25 of member 20 to limited extent. An abutment 41, preferably in the form of a so-called elastic nut 48, provided at its outer end portion with the plastic insert 49, is threaded on the outer end of stud 44 andrestrains handle bracket 32 against outward movement away from end portion 25' of member 20. A block 50 of suitable elastic material, Neoprene preferably, is disposed about stud 44 and fits in the recesses 4| and 42 of head element 3| and end portion 25 of the power head mounting member 20. The nut 48 is turned on to the stud 44 sufficiently to hold head element 3| against outward movement away from the rounded end portion 25 of member 20, while avoiding placing the resilient blocks 40 and 51] under appreciable pressure.

It will be seen that the blocks 40 and 5!] hold head element 3| of handle bracket 32 spaced 'outward radially from the corresponding end wall 25 of member 20, thus avoiding metal to metal contact therebetween. In the steering operation, when the handle is turned in either direction, the blocks 40 and 50 are compressed slightly, suflicient to transmit the turning movement to member 20 and to tube '6, and when the turning movement has been "completed, for steering purposes, the parts resume their normal relative positions. The blocks 40 and 50, due to their elasticity, readily absorb motor torque vibration and thus eliminate any objectionable vibration of the handle structure from that cause. Also, as previously noted, the flanges 2| and 21 and 28 provide, in'co'operati'on withhead element 3| fitting therebetween, convenient means for tilting the motor support tube 6 about its horizontal pivot axis l5, while also providing convenient means for carrying the unit when detached from the boat.

A further important advantage of my invention is that by removing the nut '48 from stud '44, through opening 52 provided in handle bracket 32 for that purpose, the handle structure may readily be moved as a unit from the member 25 without disturbing the mounting of the tube '3 in its sleeve 1-3, or any other part of the motor unit. By reversing the operation, the handle structure may be quickly and easily replaced. Since the handle bracket 32 is attached to the mounting member 20 below flange '2| thereof, this bracket is curved upward to clear theclamp I6 and asso-' ciated parts and preferably also curved toward one sidethe left hand side,,of mountingv member 29, so as to be disposed to best advantage for ease in steering. Briefly, the handle bracket '32 may be suitably formed to meet requirements and, within. the broader aspects of my invention, may be of any suitable shape, as will be understood.

It will be'understood, by those familiar with this field, that changes in details of construction and arangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to, without departing from the field and scope thereof, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the-scope of; the appended claims, in this application in which the 5. preferred" form only of my disclosed.

I claim: e

1. In an outboard motor unit, a support tube mounted for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis and for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, a motor mounting member secured on said tube, a handle structure comprising a handle bracket mounted on said mountin member straddling a portion thereof restrained against movement outward therefrom and movable relative to said mounting member substantially horizontally thereabout to limited extent, and elastic cushion means confined beinvention has been .tween said member and said bracket yieldingly resisting said movement of said handle bracket about said mounting member.

2. In an outboard motor unit, a support tube mounted for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis and formovement about a substantially horizontal axis, a motor mounting member secured on said tube, a handle structure comprising a handle bracket open at its inner end mounted on said mounting member straddling a portion thereof restrained against movement outward therefrom and movable relative to said mounting member substantially horizontally thereabout to limited extent, said bracket being restrained against vertical movement relative to said mounting member, and elastic cushion means confined between said member and said bracket yieldingly resisting said movement of said handle bracket about said mounting member.

3. In an outboard motor unit, a support tube mounted for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis and for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, a motor mounting member secured on said tube, a handle structure comprising a handle bracket mounted on said mounting member straddling a portion thereof restrained against movement outward therefrom and movable substantially horizontally thereabout to limited extent, said bracket and said mounting member having cooperating means restraining them against relative vertical movement, and means yieldingly resisting said movement of said handle bracket about said mounting member.

4. In an outboard motor unit, a support tube mounted for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis and for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, a motor mounting member secured on said tube having a portion substantially arcuate in plan, a handle structure comprising a handle bracket mounted on said mounting member restrained against outward movement therefrom and movable substantially horizontally thereabout to limited extent, said bracket having a head element substantially arcuate in plan extending about said arcuate portion of said mounting member, and means confined between said mounting member and said bracket head element yieldingly resisting said movement of the latter.

5. In an outboard motor unit, a support tube mounted for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis and for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, a motor mounting member secured on said tube having a portion substantially arcuate in plan provided with vertically spaced outwardly projecting flanges, a handle structure comprising a handle bracket having a head element substantially arcuate in plan fitting between said flanges and extending about said arcuate portion of said mounting member; means attaching said'bracket head ele-= ment to said arcuate portion of said mounting member restraining it against outward movement therefrom while accommodating movement to limited extent of said bracket head about said arcuate portion of said mounting member, and means confined between said arcuate portion of said mounting member and said bracket head element yieldingly resisting said movement of the latter. r

6. In an outboard motor unit, a support tube mounted for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis and for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, a motor mounting member secured on said tube having a portion substantially arcuate in plan provided with vertically spaced outwardly projecting flanges, a handle structure comprising a handle bracket having a head element substantially arcuate in plan fitting between said flanges and extending about said arcuate portion of said mounting member, means attaching said bracket head element to said arcuate portion of said mounting member restraining it against outward movement therefrom while accommodating movement to limited extent of said bracket head element about said arcuate portion of said mounting member,

the latter being provided at the ends of said arcu-,

ate portion thereof with outwardly extending shoulders spaced from the ends of said bracket head element defining with said flanges recesses, said bracket head element having inwardly opening notches at its ends overlapping said recesses forming therewith pockets having end shoulders spaced from said shoulders of said mounting member, and elastic cushion members mounted in said pockets confined between said shoulders thereof yieldingly resisting said turning movement of said bracket head element.

7. In an outboard motor unit, a support tube mounted for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis and for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, a motor mounting member secured on said tube having a portion substantially arcuate in plan provided with vertically spaced outwardly projecting flanges, said arcuate portion of said mounting member having an outwardly opening recess at about its midlength and an outwardly extending shoulder at each end, said shoulders and said flanges defining outwardly opening recesses, a handle structure comprising a handle bracket having a head element substantially arcuate in plan extending about said arcuate portion of said mounting member between said flanges thereof with its ends spaced from said shoulders, said head element having at about its midlength an inwardly opening recess opposed to said recess at the midlength of said arcuate portion of said mounting member, said head element being provided at each end thereof with inwardly opening notches overlapping said end recess of said mounting member forming therewith pockets having end shoulders spaced from said shoulders of said mounting member, means restraining said bracket against movement outward from said mounting member comprising a stud secured thereto passing through said opposed recesses thereof and through said head element with clearance between the latter and said stud accommodating limited movement of said head element about said arcuate portion of said mounting member, a block of elastic material fitting in said opposed recesses about said stud, and blocks of elastic material fitting in said pockets, said blocks yieldingly resisting move.

merit. of said bracket about said arcuate portion of said-mounting member.

8. .In an outboard motor unit, a support tube mounted for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis and for movement about a substantially horizontal. axis, a motor mounting member secured on said tube havinga portion substantially arcuate in .plan provided with vertically spaced outwardly proijecting flanges, said arcuate portion of said mounting member hearing an'outwardly opening recess at about its midlength and an outwardly extending shoulder at each end, said shoulders and said flanges defining outwardly opening recesses, a handle structure comprising a handle bracket having a head element substantially arcu'ate in plan extending about said arcuate portion of said mountingmemberbetween said flanges thereof with its ends spaced from said shoulders, said head element having at about its midlength an inwardly opening recess opposed to said recess at the midlength of said arcuate portion of said-mounting member, said head element being provided at each end thereof with inwardly opening notches overlapping said end recess of said mounting member forming therewith pockets having end shoulders spaced vfrom said shoulders of said mounting member, means restraining said bracket? against movement outward from said mounting member comprising a stud secured thereto passing through said opposed recesses. thereof and through said head element with clearance between the latter and said stud accommodating limited movement of said head element about said arouate portion of said mounting member, ablock of elastic material fitting- :in said opposed recesses about said stud, and blocks of elastic material fitting in said pockets, said blocks spacing said head element away from said arcuate portion of said mounting member and yieldingly resisting movement of said bracket about said arcuate portion of said mounting member.

9. In an outboard motor unit, a support tube mounted for turning movement about a substantially vertical axis and for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, a motor mounting member secured on .said tube, a handle structure comprising a handle bracket open at its inner end mounted on said mounting member straddling: :a

portion thereof restrained against movement outward therefrom and movable relative to said mounting member substantially horizontally thereabout to limited extent, and means yieldingly resisting :sa'id movement of said handie bracket about said mounting member.

EDGAR JORDAN,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name- Date 1,131,862 Perkins Mar. 16, 1915 1,689,032 Johnson Oct. 23, 1928 2,041,704 Gordon et al. May 26-, 1936 2,224,900 Conover Dec. 17, 1940 2,241,379 Franci May 13, 1941 2,346,148 Bo'sma Apr. 11, 1947 

